GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Bemidji State University Women's Tennis team began the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference portion of their schedule on Saturday against Minnesota Crookston. Playing each other for the second time in 10 days, the Golden Eagles came away with the 6-1 win in Grand Forks.

Starting off in doubles, Lexi Leitner/Lily Jones cruised to the 6-2 win at No. 3. Blanca Lopez-Oro/Nicoleta Anestiadi fought hard at the top flight, but just fell short by a score of 4-6. Isabela Nelson/Laura Burger fell at No. 2, 0-6. Minnesota Crookston (3-1, 1-0 NSIC) took the early 1-0 lead after doubles.

Anestiadi continued her perfect start in singles play so far this spring right into Saturday. Moving up to play at the No. 2 spot, Anestiadi picked up a hard-fought three-set win. After winning the first set, 6-3, she dropped the second set by that same score, 3-6. In the third, Anestiadi finished the way she started taking the decisive set by a score of 6-3.

Jones came really close to adding another team point at No. 5. After dropping the first set, 3-6, she rallied to win by a 6-3 score in the second to push the match to a decisive third set. In the final set, Jones claimed five points, but couldn't pick up the victory, coming up just short at 5-10.

Lopez-Oro at the top flight played a tight opening set. She forced the set into a tiebreaker before coming up short, 6-7 (3). Then lost the second set, 2-6. Leitner played her first singles match of the spring season at No. 6. After falling in the first set, 2-6, she battled in the second before coming up short, 4-6. Nelson claimed five games at No. 4 before falling, 4-6, 1-6. Burger competed at No. 3 falling in straight sets, 0-6, 0-6.

Bemidji State (1-5, 0-1 NSIC) will play a pair of NSIC matches this upcoming week in Winona. First, the Beavers will face host Winona State on Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. The next day on Saturday, BSU will go against Upper Iowa starting at 1 p.m.